Steelers’ Coach Tomlin ‘Officially’ Names Roethlisberger Starter

Added on Oct 05, 2010 by Jason Kearney in

NFL

In one of the least surprising moves of the NFL season Mike Tomlin has named freshly reinstated quarterback Ben Roethlisberger the team’s starter for the Steelers’ October 17 home game against the Cleveland Browns. According to multiple reports, ‘Big Ben’ threw a perfect ball to receiver Mike Wallace in his first pass back at practice and that pretty much sealed the deal. Tomlin announced the move on Sirius NFL Radio earlier today:

“He’s going to get his normal reps in terms of preparing for the game that he’s gotten since I’ve been here in terms of preparing a starter to play. And, of course, he’s going to start next Sunday.”

Roethlisberger is confident that he’ll be able to quickly regain his form:

“It normally takes a while to get going out there, but it felt pretty good. I knew that my arm would be good. I knew it would be strong, and I knew it would feel good. It’s just a matter of working with the guys.”

Wallace is happy to have his quarterback back in the lineup:

“We have our whole team here, and we have our leader — our quarterback — back with us. He makes everybody better. The offense is definitely going to go in another direction. We’re going to throw the ball because we’ve got one of the best guys back. So I’m excited. I’ve been smiling. Ever since last night, I’ve been smiling.”

And Roethlisberger’s off field issues that brought about the suspension? According to Hines Ward, that’s all water under the bridge:

“What’s in the past is in the past. He did his time. He did his suspension, and now we’re moving on. And we’re glad to have him back with our team. We’re 3-1 right now, so we’re going to hand it over to him and let him do his thing and try to win ball games.”

‘Big Ben’ did apologize to his receivers for the extra work they’re having to do in a bye week, but according to Wallace that’s all that needs to be said:

“What had to be said was said a long time ago. He was sorry when it first happened, so we didn’t need to go over it again or have him apologize. He doesn’t have to do that. We know that he’s sorry, and we know he’s ready to play football.”

Before the season started Tomlin suggested that Roethlisberger ‘wasn’t guaranteed’ his starting QB job back upon return from suspension. Of course that was before a season ending injury to Dennis Dixon, a season starting injury to Byron Leftwich and a complete lack of a passing game in Roethlisberger’s absence.